The Council of Ministers of Spain appointed Felix Larrosa new director general of Spain’s National Tourism Institute (Turespaña) to replace Amparo Fernandez. Mrs. Fernandez was named to the post of Tourism General Secretary.

Luxury mega yachts have returned to the Marina at Marigot Bay in St. Lucia, following the rebuilding of the original Marigot Marina, which boosted the dock capacity from 26 slips to 40 berths.

American Express stressed once again its support of the Caribbean hospitality industry through an ongoing calendar of programs and initiatives during 2007.

Jamaican police cordoned off parts of Montego Bay last week and called up extra officers while troops went on alert after a series of murders rattled the Caribbean country’s premier tourist city. Five men were shot to death –one of them also beheaded- in the inner-city section of Flower Hill, north of Montego Bay, while three others were wounded in another attack in the city’s southern section of Mount Salem between Wednesday night and Thursday morning, police said.

Helping to further the knowledge and skills of young Caribbean nationals, the Caribbean Tourism Organization is offering scholarships to those interested in studying tourism and hospitality.

The Florida Keys Eco-Discovery Center, a project sponsored by three government agencies with private sector support, opened on the Key West waterfront in an effort to help promote understanding of how the ecosystem functions, and the value of preserving it.